#BeachWrestlingWorldSeries

Beach Wrestling back in the fast lane as wrestling’s fastest growing discipline returns for 2022 World Series

Thursday, April 28, 2022 - 13:01 By United World Wrestling Press

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COSIER-VEVEY, Switzerland (April 27) --- Increasing from 4 to 5 events, the Beach Wrestling World Series continues to gather popularity with its incredible athleticism, non-stop action, easy to understand points system and rules, as well as recognition from the world of sports.

Already the fastest growing discipline in the United Word Wrestling (UWW) calendar, the wrestlers will be hitting the beaches on the May 28 and 29 as the sand superstars get the season underway in Ortaca, Turkey on Sarigerme Beach.

Then the series will head to Sanxenxo, Spain where the sands of Silgar Beach will be flying on June 18 abd 19.

The third stop sees the series move on to sensational Saint Laurent du Var and Cousteau Beach in France on the July 1 and 2.

The penultimate event on Paralia Beach in Katerini, Greece, on July 9 and 10 should already provide a clearer picture of who the kings and queens of the sands may well be, before the finale, and also World Championship on September 3 and 4. Following a pulsating 2021 finale, the Beach Wrestling World Champions will once again be crowned on magical Mamaia Beach in Constanta, Romania.

As well as the winners of the World Championships, and with four times the ranking points on offer it could see a dark horse emerge to take home the gold.

Last season's +90KG men’s World Series runner up and head coach of the Azerbaijani Beach Wrestling Oyan Nazariani is looking to go one better this year and reclaim the title he won in 2019. Having lost out last year by a tiny margin, the 28-year-old athlete has high hopes both for his own chances, but also for his team who have spent the off season working hard in Baku.

A very popular athlete on the tour, the ‘Big Gun’ said: “Beach Wrestling, for me, is a great way for people who are new to wrestling to come along and watch, it is really easy to understand with simple rules although for the athletes it is a lot tougher than it looks,as trust me it’s not easy to wrestle in the sand”. He continues, “I have been working hard alongside my team-mates over the winterand I’m coming to reclaim the Series gold medal. It would also be a dream for me for my team to be the best overall country in the series and take home the world championship!”

In the women’s, Francesca Indelicato is the current -60kg queen of the sand, having become the first Italian Beach Wrestling world champion, winning the event in Constanta last season, which, along with silver medals in France and Italy was enough for her to pip Ukrainian Anastasiya Kravchenko to the title. She hopes to lock horns with her again this series. “I hope this war can end as soon as possible and that the people affected by it have the right to go back to doing what they love.”

The 27-year-old university graduate is also determined to get as many ranking points as possible this series to keep her dream alive of taking the Beach Games by storm, and of course retain her title: “I will strive to keep my ranking scores high as I want to give all of myself to make sure I have the best chance of keeping my title and give me the opportunity to win at the next edition of the World Beach Games in 2023.”

The Beach Wrestling World Series is popular with fans and athletes alike with its party atmosphere as the sun shines down on the sand stars, the music playing and the ooohs and ahhhs of the crowd as the sands fly alongside the wrestlers as they go for gold.

The adrenaline filled action helps feed the vibe and it’s easy to see why the crowds sandside continue to grow with each event. With Beach Wrestling being named one of ANOC’s Beach Games core disciplines for 2023 and 2025 the popularity of the sport is sure to continue to grow at the rapid rate it has so far.

There are four different weight categories for both the men and women in beach wrestling, with the men competing in -70kg, -80kg, -90kg and +90kg, with the women competing in -50kg, -60kg, -70kg and +70kg, each bout lasting three frantic minutes, or first to 3 points.

A takedown or pushing your opponent out of the sandy circle is judged as 1 point, however, if you pin your opponent’s shoulder to the sand on a takedown its 3 points, and this means that no bout is ever over until the winners’ hand is raised, as we seen last season with some amazing comeback wins in the final seconds of bouts.

In the event of a tie, the wrestler who has scored the last point of the bout will take the win, and where 0-0 is the score after 3 minutes of action, the lighter of the two competitors will be given the victory.

The UWW have put prize money of 1000CHF for the gold medalists, 500CHF for silver medalists and 250CHF for the bronze medalists as well as the ‘Top Technique’ award for the best move over the weekend, voted for by the fans, which sees the winners take home 1000CHF for each gender.

Who will take home the gold this series? Will the Glorious Georgians go on another Gold Run? Will anyone be able to match Romania’s 50kg ‘heavyweight’ Princeputu? Can Team USA make an impression on this year’s event? It’s anyone’s guess as we head towards the start of the series with competitors from all over the world gearing up for the biggest Beach Wrestling World Series to date.

Tune in to see how the drama unfolds and who will be the sand kings and queens come September in Constanta.

Dates & Locations, Beach Wrestling World Series 2022
28-29 May – Ortaca (TUR) | Sarigerme Beach|
18-19 June – Sanxenxo (ESP) | Silgar Beach
01-02 July - Saint Laurent du Var (FRA) | Cousteau Beach
09-10 July - Katerini (GRE) | Paralia Beach
03-04 September - Constanta (ROU) | Mamaia Beach

#WrestleCoralville

Griman, 34, Wins Elusive Pan-Am Gold to Spoil U.S. Party

Saturday, May 9, 2026 - 09:50 By Vinay Siwach

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CORALVILLE, IOWA, United States (May 8) -- Nathali GRIMAN (VEN), 34, made her Pan-American debut in 2013, finishing fifth at 59kg in Panama City. 13 years later and wrestling at her 11th Pan-American Championships on Friday, Griman finally won the elusive gold medal.

At the Xtream Arena, Coralville, Griman's gold also spoiled what could have been a perfect day for the United States as it won the remaining five golds in Women's Wrestling.

UWW Plus

Greco-Roman also closed out with the remaining two weight classes on Friday at the Pan-American Championships as the United States won the team title with 216 points. Cuba finished second with 115 points and Brazil was third with 99 points.

The one Greco gold for the U.S. on Friday was won by Benjamin PEAK (USA) at 72kg while Olympic bronze medalist Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) gave Cuba its third Greco gold of the tournament by reigning supreme at 97kg.

 

In the final at 62kg, Griman was up against former U20 world champion Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), who had dominated her way to the final, winning four bouts 11-1, 12-1, 10-0 and 11-0, and was clearly the favorite.

Robinson opened the final with a takedown for two points, tripping Griman at the edge of the zone. Griman was put on the activity clock soon after and as she failed to score, Robinson got a point and led 3-0 at the break. However, Griman used over-under set-up to throw Robinson and score four points 23 seconds into the second period.

Robinson scored a reversal and then a gut-wrench to quickly reclaim the lead 6-4 with 2:16 remaining in the final. Griman remained unfazed and hit a double-leg attack, lifted Robinson before slamming her on the mat for two points and a 6-6 criteria lead, thanks to her superior scoring sequence of four points earlier in the mat.

After a longish medical timeout, Robinson returned to the center but was not able to break the defense of Griman who held on and ended her wait for the gold medal.

Griman has six other medals in the tournament's history -- two silvers won in 2025 and 2023 and four bronze medals won in 2014, 2015, 2017 and 2019. It was also the first time ever that Griman won a gold medal at a United World Wrestling championships.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA)Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) won the 57kg gold medal to be one of the five champions for the U.S. on Friday. (Photo: United World Wrestling / Jake Kirkman)

The five gold-medal run for the U.S. began at 50kg as Katie GOMEZ (USA) won the final against Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3. The two were in a tangle and rolled through with both wrestlers getting two points each and Mollocana leading 2-2 on criteria.

But the Ecuador wrestler was put on activity clock in the second period and Gomez picked up a takedown during that period to lead 5-2. Mollocana kept the pressure and managed a stepout with 16 seconds remaining but could not get a takedown to win the bout.

At 55kg, U20 world champion Everest LEYDECKER (USA) won her first Pan-Am title in just 52 seconds. With only three wrestlers in the bracket, Leydecker won both her bouts with ease. She used a takedown against Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX) and then transitioned into a lace, finishing the bout.

Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) added the third gold for the U.S. by beating Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1, in the 57kg final. She scored a stepout to open the scoring and then doubled her lead with another. Valverde scored a stepout of her own just before the break, making the score 2-1.

Valverde was put on the activity clock in the second period and Martinez managed another stepout, though it was Valverde who just backpedaled out of bounds. Leading 4-1, Martinez countered a leg-attack from Valverde and scored a takedown to confirm her winning score with more than a minute left in the final.

In a low scoring final at 62kg, Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) held off Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1, to claim the fourth gold of the night for the U.S. Nwachukwu was the first to go on the activity clock and she did not score in the 30-second window, giving a point to Jimenez. But the scores reversed in the second period when Jimenez was put on the activity clock and Nwachukwu also scored a stepout to lead 2-1 with 1:58 remaining.

Jimenez challenged at the end for Nwachukwu's fleeing but it was not confirmed on review, adding another point to the U.S. wrestler's score.

Precious BELL (USA) won both her bouts at 72kg via technical superiority to claim the gold medal in the three-wrestler bracket. She first defeated Michelle OLEA (MEX) and then Ellise DAYNES (CAN), winning the fifth gold for the host nation.

Rosillo Wins 3rd Pan-Am Title

In the two Greco-Roman weight categories that were competed on Friday, former world champion Rosillo defended his Pan-Am gold medal at 97kg while Peak gave the U.S. its seventh Greco gold of the tournament.

The 97kg final went on for only 2:15 but it was an action-packed bout with Rosillo securing a fall over Paris Olympian Kevin MEJIA (HON) to win the gold medal. Rosillo got the par terre position in the first period and turned Mejia to lead 3-0.

As he was trying another gut-wrench, Mejia blocked him and scored two points for exposure. He then lifted Rosillo to set up a big throw but the Cuban turned to face Mejia who, instead of a suplex, managed a bodylock throw.

Rosillo fell on top of Mejia and then held him on the mat to secure the fall with 3:45 remaining in the final. Rosillo joined Kevin DE ARMAS (CUB) at 60kg and Luis ORTA (CUB) at 67kg as Pan-Am champions for Cuba.

Peak at 72kg was in a three-wrestler bracket and won both his bouts to claim the gold medal, seventh for U.S. Greco team in Coralville. He first defeated Mauri VICENTE (BRA), 8-0, and then held on to a 4-2 win over Emerson FELIPE (GUA) to secure the title. 

Photo

RESULTS

Greco-Roman

72kg
GOLD:  Benjamin PEAK (USA)
SILVER: Emerson FELIPE (GUA)
BRONZE: Mauri VICENTE (BRA)

97kg
GOLD: Gabriel ROSILLO (CUB) df. Kevin MEJIA (HON), via fall (6-2)

BRONZE: Carlos ADAMES (DOM) df. Ricardo GOMEZ (ARG), 12-11
BRONZE: Timothy YOUNG (USA) df. Jhonny ARIAS (COL), 7-2

Women's Wrestling

50kg
GOLD: Katie GOMEZ (USA) df. Jacqueline MOLLOCANA (ECU), 5-3

BRONZE: Thalia OLIVEIRA (BRA) df. Nohalis LOYO (VEN), 7-6
BRONZE: Madison PARKS (CAN) df. Nathaly HERRERA (PER), 8-0

55kg
GOLD: Everest LEYDECKER (USA)
SILVER: Josefina RAMIREZ (MEX)
BRONZE: Amber WIEBE (CAN)

57kg
GOLD: Amanda MARTINEZ (USA) df. Luisa VALVERDE (ECU), 6-1

BRONZE: Bertha ROJAS (MEX) df. Yocleidy RAMIREZ (DOM), 5-2
BRONZE: Yaynelis SANZ (CUB) df. Giullia PENALBER (BRA), 4-0

62kg
GOLD: Adaugo NWACHUKWU (USA) df. Melanie JIMENEZ (MEX), 3-1

BRONZE: Astrid MONTERO (VEN) df. Lais NUNES (BRA), 2-1

68kg
GOLD: Nathali GRIMAN (VEN) df. Jasmine ROBINSON (USA), 6-6

BRONZE: Virginia JIMENEZ (CHI) df. Maria CEBALLOS (COL), 9-0

72kg
GOLD: Precious BELL (USA)
SILVER: Ellise DAYNES (CAN)
BRONZE: Michelle OLEA (MEX)